Volcanic eruption in Japan

This morning there was a volcanic eruption on Kuchinoerabu island where about 110-150 people live. It is located about 1,111 km away from Tsukuba (same distance as e.g. Maastricht -Barcelona/Rome/Warsaw).

The plume gases have come up to 9,000 m high, a significant height interrupting the flight plans of several airlines. While the island is located a mere 15 km from the larger Yakushima, popular among tourists, it still takes an hour to get there by boat. Reports are a ferry from Yakushima picked up around 100 people already and evacuated them.

Previous eruptions of the Shindake (New Peak, 新岳) include last year, August 4th 2014, with no casualties. Among other known eruptions (in 1980, 1976, 1974, 1973, 1972, 1968-69, 1966, 1945, 1933-34) only this last one in 1933 led to 8 deaths.

See also:

Volcano erupts on Kuchinoerabu isle off Kagoshima, prompting evacuation order

UPDATE 2-Volcano erupts on Japanese island, evacuation ordered, airlines diverted

Kuchinoerabu-Jima volcano (Ryukyu Islands, Japan): new eruption and pyroclastic flow

NHK news (Japanese)

Warning level 5, evacuate from the Japan Meteorological Agency:

Article in Japan Times: